Softball

Softball Drops One to Franklin Pierce, Wins Second 1-0 on a Kelsey Ellis Home Run

Apr 16, 2009

RINDGE, NH - The Merrimack (21-13, 14-6 NE-10) softball team
picked up another win Thursday when Kelsey Ellis hit her fifth home
run of the season, a solo home run, lifting Merrimack to a 1-0
victory. The Warriors dropped game one 4-2 to the Ravens.

Ravens pitcher Courtney Jacobs limited the Warriors to six hits
in the first game, while Merrimack pitcher Vicky Cotter
(Hampton,NH) gave up only five hits, but
the Ravens managed four runs in their victory. The Ravens jumped
out first putting up two runs in the third inning after Elaine
Matthews reached on a fielder's choice. Ravens left fielder Jackie
Prybella followed Matthews and roped a double to right field,
scoring Matthews. The Ravens put two more up in the fifth after
Matthews and Prybella scored, to solidify their win.

Merrimack finally put one on the board in the fourth after
Kelsey Ellis (Vancouver,
B.C.) reached on a single to left. She scored after senior
Jill Gagnon
(Manchester,NH) belted a double down the left
field line for her second hit of the game. Merrimack's other run
came in the seventh when junior Emily Cummings
(Andover,MA) hit a single to right center
for her first hit of the game. She scored later in the inning but
the Warriors could not put up any more runs.

After dropping game one, it took Merrimack eight innings to get
in done in the second game. Junior Atlee Cahill
(Gloucester,MA) pitched eight scoreless
innings, giving up only six hits and walking one. In the pitching
duel, Ravens pitcher Kayla Johnson also gave up only six hits
before Ellis stepped up to the plate with one out in the eighth and
belted a solo home run to center field for her third hit of the
day. Cahill came back on the mound in the eighth to complete the
win retiring the first three batters she faced.

Merrimack returns to Warrior Field on Saturday for Senior Day
taking on St. Anselm in a doubleheader beginning at 12 p.m. Seniors
Vicky Cotter, Jill Gagnon, and Jill Richards will be honored.